Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

How Music Helps Black Queer Artists and Industry Creatives Tell Their Stories

18/09/2023

Photo credit: Jonathan Parham

In the vibrant tapestry of human expression and experience, music has always been a powerful medium for storytelling, and one with historical significance in Black communities. Music's ability to evoke emotions, paint vivid imagery, and convey deep narratives has made it a vital tool for sharing experiences. At GLAAD's inaugural Black Queer Creative Summit, powered by Gilead Sciences and sponsored by Spotify, attendees had the opportunity to learn from and connect with artists and music industry professionals who've long navigated their identities through their work.

The summit was geared towards empowering, educating, and training emerging Black LGBTQ creatives across five sectors of the entertainment industry. The summit's Music Supervision Track featured panels that shed light on the profound impact of music in telling the stories of Black LGBTQ artists, and how music resonates with audiences of various backgrounds.

One panel on music supervision, Music Can Tell Your Story, Too, was moderated by Victor Jackson, artist and founder of Glam Rock Soul Entertainment Group, and featured Jess Furman, Sr. Executive Creative Director of Sound Revolver; Ryan Butler, Vice President of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion of The Recording Academy; and Alaysia Sierra, Head of R&B at Spotify. For the Record got a sneak preview of the conversation between Victor, Jess, Alaysia, and Ryan.

What does working within the world of music mean to you in terms of your identity? Do you have personal experiences where music has become a powerful medium for expressing your Black queer identity? (L R: Ryan Butler, Alaysia Sierra, Jess Furman, Victor Jackson)

Victor: I fully consider it. I move through the world as a Black queer man, so in approving my music, the writing of it, the creating the performances of it, it's very important to me to take up space in my authenticity. To take up space in my Blackness, in my queerness, and in the divinity of both. So, it has a large impact on how I show up in the world and how I show up in the studio and on stage.

I'm actually on tour right now with an artist named CANDIACE; she's popular from The Real Housewives of Potomac, but I've been touring with her at City Wineries this summer, and it's really been awesome to see how the audience responds to the music, to the performance. People are singing along to the pronouns that also relate to who I love and who I share my love with. People always come up to me after and say, I didn't know I needed to hear these songs about Black queer love until I heard your songs.

Jess: For me, as a queer woman, it's about maintaining a sense of visibility in all the different areas and holding the door open. We do a lot with Women in the Mix, showing that there are women producers, writers, and engineers. We held Out Sessions a couple of years ago with my non-profit, Motion Creative, which were three days of a writing camp for LGBTQ creators, and everything there, including the food and wine vendors, were queer.

It's a big goal for me to bring visibility to my community, to hold the door open, and make sure that if I get tapped for an initiative because of my identity, I hold them accountable to not just checking that box, but to bringing on other LGBTQ participants and vendors.

Alaysia: Being a Black, queer, nonbinary person in music means a lot to me, because I know how important it is for that visibility. When I was looking at the industry growing up, I actually never really saw anyone who shared my identities and so I know for people who aspire to work in music to look in and see someone who looks like them will reassure them that it's possible. I think on the other side, the internal work that I'm able to do by having a seat here is to advocate for inclusion. And providing space and access to queer artists, creatives and future execs is equally as important as anything else I do.

Ryan: Throughout my career, I've strived to uplift marginalized voices and break down harmful stereotypes, whether in the Black community or queer community. As a Black queer man, I understand firsthand how narratives shape perceptions and that representation matters. At the Recording Academy, I've worked closely with our leaders across all verticals to ensure we are proactively inclusive and are fostering a sense of belonging. We've taken concrete steps like establishing scholarships for aspiring Black music creators and professionals, advocating for more diverse GRAMMY voters, and launching the Black Music Collective and LGBTQ Task Force.

On a personal level, I try to highlight the intersectionality and indivisibility of identity whenever possible. I firmly believe that showing people's humanity is key to fostering empathy and understanding. I've produced events that center queer artists of color and given talks on embracing authentic self-expression. My hope is that my advocacy helps dispel limiting assumptions about what it means to be Black and queer, or any identity. I think narrative change starts with individual connections. If I can help just one person feel seen or rethink bias through my own story, it's progress.

There is still much work to be done, but I'm dedicated to uplifting marginalized voices, promoting diverse talent, and inspiring people to approach social issues with nuance, compassion, and an open mind. Authentic representation in media and culture can be incredibly powerful in creating change. I'm grateful to do my part in steering the industry toward greater inclusivity and equity.

The artist's perspective Several of the artists in attendance, including Atlanta-based HAL S, 23-year-old techno-R&B creator SHAH, singer-songwriter-producer-motivational speaker-advocate Nathan Townsend, Berlin-base
LINK: https://newsroom.spotify.com/2023-09-18/how-music-helps-black-queer-ar...
See more stories from spotify

Most recent headlines

04/12/2023

Dalet Releases Dalet Cut, the Fastest Web-based Editor

Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, announced the release of Dalet Cut, the cloud-native, lightning-fast multimedia a...

30/09/2023

Survey Ranks Top Sports Among TV Viewers

With this summers strikes hurting the flow of new content into TV and streaming platforms, live sports have become an even more important programming staple, wi...

30/09/2023

Second GOP Debate Viewed in 4.1M U.S. Homes

Viewing of the second GOP debate on Sept. 27 fell to 4.1 million homes, a notable 39% drop from the 6.6 million homes that watched that first GOP debate, accord...

30/09/2023

FCC Ordered to Complete 2018 Quadrennial Review

WASHINGTON, D.C. In the long-running regulatory saga of the FCC's station ownership rules, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has issued a rulin...

30/09/2023

Calrec to Bring IP Workflow Solutions to NAB Show NY

Calrec Audio Ltd. will feature its latest solutions to help broadcasters and OB suppliers transition to IP workflows at NAB Show New York, Oct. 25 26....

30/09/2023

HPAT Expands Municipal Meeting Reach with IP Video Workfl...

Northern Minnesota residents can watch live City Council meetings and more on all viewing platforms thanks to broad network stream support Between support for...

30/09/2023

Barix Brings Spanish Broadcasts to Life for San Francisco...

The classic Instreamer-to-Exstreamer combination comes through for Spanish language audiences in the United States and Mexico, with the Instreamer handling remo...

30/09/2023

Zeros in Ones Hits the Road with AJA's Dante AV 4K-R and 4K-T

Zeros in Ones Hits the Road with AJA's Dante AV 4K-R and 4K-T Brie Clayton September 29, 2023 0 Comments As founder of video production company Zer...

30/09/2023

Arcturus Appoints Former Microsoft and Lucasfilm Veteran Steve Sullivan as Chief Product Officer

Arcturus Appoints Former Microsoft and Lucasfilm Veteran Steve Sullivan as Chief...

30/09/2023

Vodafone Studios Boosts Audiovisual Production Capabilities with Blackmagic Design

Vodafone Studios Boosts Audiovisual Production Capabilities with Blackmagic Desi...

30/09/2023

Moving Above LTO - How Cloud Storage Helps One Texas Church Deliver a Modern Digital Ministry

Moving Above LTO - How Cloud Storage Helps One Texas Church Deliver a Modern Dig...

30/09/2023

New Pass the Mic Podcast to Highlight Inspiring Berklee Alumni

New Pass the Mic Podcast to Highlight Inspiring Berklee Alumni Listen to the first episode featuring Captain Marvel composer Pinar Toprak B.M. '00. By Dan...

30/09/2023

Live from the 2023 Ryder Cup: Sky Sports Virtual Studio in UK Plays Big Role in Remote Production

Live from the 2023 Ryder Cup: Sky Sports Virtual Studio in UK Plays Big Role in ...

29/09/2023

Give Me the Backstory: Get to Know C.J. Fiery Obasi, the Writer-Director of Mami Wata

One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festival is having a fro...

29/09/2023

10 Great Musical Biographies That Tell the Stories Behind Your Favorite Artists

You might know all the songs and albums of your favorite musicians, but do you know the experiences and inspirations behind their work? Luckily, you can find ou...

29/09/2023

Level Up With These 12 Motivational Audiobooks for a Productive Workday

There are times when the daily grind might not leave you feeling the most inspired. But it doesn't always have to be like that. Words of wisdom may be just ...

29/09/2023

9 Trending-On-Social Audiobooks To Appeal to Your Inner Influencer

Sometimes you might notice a thoughtful review from a friend on your feed, or stumble upon a flash summary straight out of your favorite social influencer's...

29/09/2023

Kick Back With 9 Audiobooks To Help You Unwind

Whether it's chilling on the couch or crashing into bed, nothing beats settling into a nice long rest at the end of the day. And few things are more frustra...

29/09/2023

7 Compelling Book-To-Screen Adaptations That Are Now Available as Audiobooks

Which was better, the book or the movie? It's a common argument that has withstood the test of time and has only gotten stronger as more and more hit tele...

29/09/2023

Start Your Day Off Right With 9 Audiobooks for Your Morning Commute

Whether you like to begin your day the moment you get out of bed or ease gently into it with a cup of coffee, you can count on audiobooks to boost your mornings...

29/09/2023

9 Audiobooks To Start You on Your Literary Journey

With elaborate storytelling, immersive worlds, and an enthusiastic fandom hyping it up, getting into a new book can be an exciting and fun moment. And with the ...

29/09/2023

Spotify EQUAL Presents the All Things Go Creator Summit to Inspire Action Through Music

Fans flock to music festivals to see dozens of their favorite artists in one go,...

29/09/2023

Launchpad Season 2 Takes Flight

Now streaming on Disney+, Launchpad Season 2 comprises six original live-action short films from underrepresented filmmakers whose unique voices bring new persp...

29/09/2023

Transformative AI Insights from Wasabi and GrayMeta to Power Next Generation Fan Experiences

Wasabi hot cloud storage is purpose-built to store the world's data. Wasabi ...

29/09/2023

Sohonet Unveils Advanced Collaboration Tools at IBC 2023

Sohonet, the global experts in media collaboration for the film and TV industry, announce a series of significant product updates set to redefine and streamline...

29/09/2023

Connecting the Nodes at Night

Current and incoming L3Harris innovations provide warfighters immersive battlefield awareness capabilities during the day and at night - with the ability to pus...

29/09/2023

I am L3Harris - Marcelo Montenegro

After graduating high school at the age of 16, I left my native Venezuela and moved to Miami, Florida, with the goal of becoming an electrical engineer. The fol...

29/09/2023

L3Harris Honors Canada's National Day of Truth and Reconciliation

L3Harris employees in Mirabel, Quebec, proudly wore their Mother Bear Energy shirts on September 28, 2023....

29/09/2023

A Lively MWC Las Vegas in Partnership With CTIA Lit Up Debate Across the Mobile Ecosystem, Vertical Industries and Start-ups

The 2023 edition of GSMA MWC Las Vegas saw a rise in attendees from vertical ind...

29/09/2023

SEG Media Launches Jazz+

Timed to coincide with the Utah Jazz's 50th season celebration, SEG Media has launched the direct-to-consumer streaming service Jazz+, which offers exclusiv...

29/09/2023

NAB CEO Lays Out Advocacy, Broadcast Priorities

WASHINGTON, D.C. The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) hosted a virtual town hall for members on Sept. 28 where it provided updates on NAB's policy...

29/09/2023

RE:LIVE Productions Invests in Ikegami Cameras

SINGAPORE Ikegami has announced that RE:LIVE Productions, one of Singapore's leading providers of creative video, event management and live streaming servic...

29/09/2023

CVP Announces Dates for the Production Technology Showcas...

- The popular showcase for the latest production solutions, technology and insights returns for its third year - CVP, one of Europe s leading resellers and pro...

29/09/2023

That Station's First Light, Preferred Sunday Morning Walk Listening for WRAL Retiree Mike Moss

Well known for cross-divisional collaboration and staying connected with our for...

29/09/2023

Berklee Abu Dhabi Convenes Community Leaders for Creative Arts Educators Symposium

Berklee Abu Dhabi Convenes Community Leaders for Creative Arts Educators Symposi...

29/09/2023

TransUnion Teams With Crackle Connex To Create Custom Audiences

TransUnion said it is working with Crackle Connex, Chicken Soup For the Soul Entertainment's advertising sales unit, to create custom audiences from first-p...

29/09/2023

Roku To Stream Video Advertising in Spotify App

Spotify and Roku said they are bringing video ads to the Spotify app on the Roku platform....

29/09/2023

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Boogies Down To Disney Plus and ABC from HBO

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony is moving from HBO to Disney Plus and ABC....

29/09/2023

Speedvision FAST Channel Streams on Xumo Play

Auto entertainment network Speedvision said it is available as a free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channel on Xumo Play....

29/09/2023

Chris Nguyen Joins Scripps News as Atlanta-Based Anchor

Scripps News said it hired Chris Nguyen as an anchor....

29/09/2023

People's Choice Country Awards' on NBC, Peacock September 28

The first-ever People's Choice Country Awards happens on NBC and Peacock Thursday, September 28. Little Big Town hosts from the Grand Ole Opry House in Nash...

29/09/2023

Rebuilding Black Wall Street' Validates Mission of Black-Owned Producer Sunwise Media

Seeing their docuseries Rebuilding Black Wall Street appear on the Oprah Winfrey...

29/09/2023

Scripps News Grabs First News Emmy

Scripps News got its first national News Emmy for its docuseries In Real Life. Scripps News won in the outstanding science, technology or environmental coverage...

29/09/2023

Locality Names John Brohel Chief Financial Officer

John Brohel has been named chief executive officer of Locality, formed in June when CoxReps and Gamut were combined....

29/09/2023

A Man and His Dog Emerge as AGT' Champs

An animal act has won season 18 of America's Got Talent, as Adrian Stoica and his dog Hurricane were the top vote getters. They won $1 million and join the ...

29/09/2023

Small but mighty: Why compact OB vans are perfect for live events

Zest4.tv's managing director, Simon Roe, looks at the ways in which compact OB Vans are the epitome of efficiency, proving that size does not limit their po...

29/09/2023

Bringing the story of the greatest sporting curveball in history' to the screen

TVBEurope talks to the team behind the film about Eddie Jones and the Japanese r...

29/09/2023

MediaKind makes key appointments to accelerate innovation and growth'

Ashish Patel has been appointed president, MediaKind operator platforms, and Tony Goncalves joins as strategic advisor By Jenny Priestley Published: Septembe...

29/09/2023

Chyron Showcases Stability Growth and Robust Product Deve...

Building on the momentum of major product announcements and award wins at NAB Show earlier this year, Chyron last week concluded a successful showing at IBC2023...

29/09/2023

Matrox Video Announces Smart Building Expo 2023 Showcase

Visit Matrox Video at Smart Building Expo 2023 in Hall 6P, Stand B37 Technology innovator Matrox Video today announced its lineup for the Smart Building Expo 2...